Railway-construction car



(No Model.)

O. 0-. BROWN QShgets-Sheet 1. 1 RAILWAY GONSTRUCTIONUAR. No. 487,045. Patented Nov. 29, 1892. 0

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9 t e e h s W e e h s 2 w 0 R B G O m d o M 0 W RAILWAY UONSTRUGTIQN GAR.

Patented. Nov. 29, 1892.

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I 'UNiTE STATES PATENT o e-.1

CARVER O. BROWVN, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

RAILWAY-CONSTRUCTION CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,045, dated November 29, 1892.

Application filed August 3, 1892 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARVER 0. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at ElPaso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Construction Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in dumping-cars for use in the construction of railway road-beds; and the object is to provide for operating the car by means of compressed air or steam from the locomotive.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a construction for carrying out my invention.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a car embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an end view of the same; Fig. 3, a top view of the car open, as inthe act of dumping its load; Fig. 4, a

- cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a

longitudinal section of the car in closed condition; Fig. 6, a cross-section on line 6 6 of Fig. 3, with the car open, as in the act of dumping its load; Fig. 7, abottom view of the a car; Fig. 8, a detail view illustrating the style of release or exhaust valve employed, the easing of the same and the pipes leading thereinto being in section. Fig. 9 shows a detail sectional view of ava-lve-box and valves therein for controlling the fiow of fluid.

The frame of the car comprises end pieces or bolsters, with sills 2 bolted thereto and longitudinal beams or sleepers 3 and bracerods 4 connecting said bolsters. The latter may each be in one piece, or may each consist of two pieces 5 6, as here shown, with an interposed metal plate 7. In the present instance there are four longitudinal beams or sleepers 3, the two inside ones being higher than the two outside ones, and all having inclined upper surfaces 8. Inclined crosspieces 9 connect the said beams atintervals and are faced with metal on the upper side to form slideways, a number of the said facings 10 extending all the way across the carframe, with an apex at the middle.

' The car-platform comprises two longitudinal sections, each of which consists of suitable flooring 11, fastened on slide-blocks 12, which have inclined lower sides, metal-faced to slide on the inclined slideways 10. The said slideblocks 12 have inclined slots 13, which are Serial No. 442,042- (No model.)

engaged by a pivot-rod 14, extending longitudinally of the car and fastened in the end bolsters 5 6.

The closed condition of the car is with the platform horizontal and the inner edges of the two sections fitting together and the rods 14 occupying the outer end of the slots 13. The said platform-sections slide down and away from each other on the ways 10 and tilt to an approximately-vertical position, turning on the rods 14, to dump the matter which they carry. The interposed plate 7 and facings 16 on the bolsters prevent the pivot-rods wearing into the wood of the bolsters. Blocks 44 at the middle of the truck form guides, on either side of which the middle slide-blocks fit. The platform sections have upright guard-boards 15 at their inner confronting edges to prevent dirt from falling between them and into the operating mechanism below. When the platform-sections areclosed together, they are prevented from jolting up and down by the engagement of pins 17, which project from the slide-blocks 12 under catches 18, fastened on the upper sides of the middle sleeper-beams 3.

I employ the following mechanism to hold the platform-sections closed and prevent them from sliding outward and down on the ways 10. A pair of double sliding latches are pro.- vided, and each consists of two slide-bars 19, fitting against the inner sides of the middle sleeper-beams of the car-frame and guided by pins 20, which engage slots 21 in said slide bars. above the said beams and has an inclined flange 22, extending over the top surface of the beam, and a notch or detent 23, adjoining said projecting part. The slide-bars are connected together by a cross-bar 24.

Each platform-section has a pair of springarms 25 on the under side whose inner ends are bent rounded and carry antifriction-rollers 26, to take over the projecting parts of the slide-bars 19 of the latches, the said rounded ends riding upon the inclined flanges 22. The latches may be'moved to bring the rollers on the spring-arms at the notches or detents 23, when the platform-sections may slide out and down, said rollers passing through the said notches. Each of the sliding latches has a Each of the latter projects at one part rod 27 connected with its cross-bar 24 and jointed'to a rocking arm 28',which ismounted on a rock-shaft 29 in hearings on the under side of the center beams of the car. In the present instance said rocking arm is in the form of a loop which extends below said rockshaft.

A pair of drums 30, forming in effect one double drum, is mounted at eachendof the car between the center beams thereof, and

the drum in a suitablebra-clie-t 33, andset 'ob'- liquely. Said flexible connection passes through a guide 34von'the inner part-of the platform-section, and is joined to a strip-35, secured acrossthe outersideof said:platt'ormsection. (See dotted lines in.Fig.- 6.); Two drums-0n one side of thecentral longitudinal line ,of the .car are connected withoneof the platform-sections andtheother tw-o with the other section.-v It will-be seenthe winding of the flexible connections upon 'the drumswill draw-.-theplatform-sectionsdown on. the slideways 10 and then inward until they meet. A cogywheel 36 is interposed between each pair of drums, and a toothed. segment 37 gears into said cog-wheel and base. depending bif urcatedvarm .38, said segment beinglmo-unted onatshaftin bearingsonthe under side of the centerq beams of the car.

Acy-linder 39 is suppprtedbybrackets-40, depending. from the central beams of the car, and two pistons 41 are insaid cylinder Eachof saidpistonsh-as a rod 42,. which extends through the bifurcated arm 38 of one of'. the segments 3:7;and also through the looperefone of, the rocking; arms 28-, and said rod has; projections43 oil-opposite sidesof, each of; said partsviz., the bifurcated arm and th'elooped rocking arm. A pipe 4 5 extends from a box 46-, secured onthe under side of one-of thecarframe sills-2,, and has branches 471475, which enter the two-opposite ends of the cylinder 39. Anotherpipe 48 extends-from said box 46, and has-a-branch49, which enters the-middle-of thezcylinder. An exhaust-valve is inserted in' each pipe, and com-prises a casin g 50,into which the pipe opens, and a piston slide-valve ,51, fittingclosely the bore of said casingandhaw ingran annular passage 52 on the exterior and a central passage 53 extending throughit in theline ofthe;pipe,;but being of smaller area than the bore-of said pipe. 'lhisthrough-passageis-indicated in dotted lines inaEig. 8. v The valvehas-a guide-stem 54,- fi-ttinga bore ofthe casing, and a spring 55 fits about said; stem and holds the valve to-the'right; A branch 56 of the pipe 48' enters-the casing of:the:exha-ust-valve in; the pi pe '45, and isnormal-ly closed by 1 the piston-valve having-position overit and a branchv57 of the pipe-45 entersthecasing of the exhaust-valve-in the other pipe 48,-and islikewise normallyclosed by the piston-valve in said casing.- In, each valvecase an exhaust-port 58 is in the side opposite thebranc'h pipe, and is adaptedito be placed 1 box-46; Each of! theapipes- 59, 45,-and 48 is controlled by a separate valve in the form of an ordinary-one-Waycock 60, fitting a bore in the box 46, and by means of said valves either of the pipes 45 or 48 may be put in communication with the train-pipe. Said box communicates with the train-pipe on the next car by a nipple: 6-1.

Eachyal've 60 has a stem 62, extending upward along the bolster 5 of the carframe in suitable keepers-zand provided w-lth .aVh-andle 63=for turning it..

havingheen admitted I through thepipe148 by opening-thevalve 60,which controls'said pipe. To 7 release-the platform-sections and dump the load-carried thereOmthe -Said valve is closed and, the valve controlling/the, pipe 45 is opened. The compressed air now enterssaid pipes 45, and reachingthe exhaustvalvein the same exertspressure against. the head of'the piston-valve 5 1 and forces the, same back; to a posit-ionlwhere-the annular pass-ageyd2-establishes a communication between. the branchypipe 56 and: the port 58 and thereby releases. the compressed air from between-the pistons -41. Atthe sametime com-pressedair passes throughthebranch pipe 47 intoone end 10f; the cylinder and. throughzthe central passage 53 in theexhaus-t-valve to the branch pipe 47 and therethrough into i the opposite end of the cylinder. Oompressed-air'being thusintroduced'on the outersides of thetwo pistons and that between loein-gv exha-u sted, the pistons are forced together. This; causes the projections-on 1 the piston rodsto turnthe segments 37 and unwinzdthedrums 3,0 and also to shiftthe rocking arms-28andthereby slidegth-e double latchesto a position Where the" ends-0t the spring-arms; 25 may pass through the notches 23.:in the-said sliding latches The platform-sectionswill now slide down. the inclined Ways--and dump the load; To reclose the platforms,-,thecontrollingrvaive of; thepi-pe .45 is: closed and that vof the pipe 4 8 opened and the reverse action takes place, theexhaust-va-lve in the pipe48 beingopened by; the airpressure to release the compressed air on theouter sides of the pistonsand cornpressed air enteringgbetween: the'pistons to force themwapart. and thereby Wind upthe flexible connections on the; drums; and draw the platform-sections-to the closedposition; Atthe same time-,therocking. arms .28- are shifted and the sliding latches-19 moved backto; aposition where the spri ng arms-25"wi1l take over them. After-on-e-car is dumped the air is carried to the next car through the trainpipe 59 by opening the valve 60, controlling the latter and closing both the other controlling-valves. The said valves 60 are operated by turning the stems 92.

It will be seen that with this construction each car of a train may be operated independently of the others and a very powerful fluid agent is employed to operate the dumping apparatus.

It is evident my invention may be embodied in many'forms differing from that here shown in arrangement and construction of parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a dumping-platform, a drum, a flexible connection between said drum and platform, and means for revolving said drum by fluid-pressure, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

-2. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a dumping-platform, a drum, a flexible connection between said drum and platform, a cylinder for fluid,apiston in said cylinder and having a rod, and suitable connections between the said rod and the drum, whereby the latter may be revolved by application of fluid-pressure to the piston.

3. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a dumping-platform, a drum, a flexi ble connection between said drum and platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston in said cylinder and having a rod, and a segment for actuating said drum and connected with the piston-rod, whereby the drum may be revolved by application of fluid-pressure on the piston.

4. In arailway-construction car, the combination of a dumping-platform, a pair of drums, flexible connections between said drums and the said platform, a cylinder for fluid, two pistons in said cylinder, each having a rod, and suitable connections between said rods and the two drums, whereby fluid-pressure acting to move said pistons toward or away from each other operates the platform.

5. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a sliding platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston in said cylinder and having a rod, suitable connections between said rod and the sliding platform, whereby the latter is operated by fluid'pressure on the piston, a latch to hold the said platform, and suitable connections between said latch and the pis ton-rod, whereby the platform may be released by the movement of the latter.

6. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a sliding platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston in said cylinder and having a rod, suitable connections between said rod and the sliding platform, whereby the latter is operated by fluid-pressure on the piston, a sliding latch engaging a projection on the platform, and suitable connections between ,said latch and the piston-rod, whereby the movement 'of the latter may throw the latch out of engagement with the projection on the platform.

7. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a sliding platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston in said cylinder and having a rod, suitable connections between said rod and the sliding platform, whereby the latter is operated by fluid-pressure on the piston, a sliding latch having a projecting inclined part, a spring-arm on the sliding platform havingan end to take over the projecting inclined part of said latch, and suitable con nections between said latch and the pistonred, whereby the movement of the latter may throw the latch out of engagement with the projection on the platform.

8. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a sliding platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston in said cylinder and having a rod, a suitable connection between said rod and the sliding platform, whereby the latter is operated by fluid pressure on the piston, a sliding latch engaging a projection on the platform, and a rocking arm connecting the latch and piston-rod, whereby the movement of the latter may throw the latch out of engagement with the projection on the platform.

9. In a railway-construction car, the com bination of a platform made in two sliding and tilting sections, a drum, flexible connections between said drum and the two sections of the platform, a cylinder for fluid, a piston therein having a rod, and suitable connections between said rod and the drum, whereby the latter may be revolved by application of fluid pressure on the piston.

10. In a railway-construction car, the combination of a platform made in two sliding and tilting sections, a cylinder, piston, and piston-rod, suitable connections between the said rod and the sections of the platform, whereby the latter may be operated by application of fluid pressure on the pist0n,,a double sliding latch engaging projections on the two sections of the platform, and connections between the said latch and the piston-rod, whereby it may be moved out of engagement with the platform-sections by said piston-rod.

11. In a railway-construction car, the combination of the car-frame having inclined slideways, two platform-sections having slotted slide-blocks fitting on said slideways, pivot-rods engaging the slots in the said slideblocks, and suitable means for sliding and tilting said platform-sections.

12. In a construction car, the combination of a cylinder for fluid, two pistons therein, piston-rods, suitable connections between the latter and the dumping apparatus, whereby the same is operated by movements of the pistons toward and away from each other, a pipe for conducting fluid into the cylinder on the outer sides of the pistons, a pipe for conducting fluid between the two pistons, valves for controlling the How of fluid through said pipes, and an automatic exhaust-valve in each of the said pipes and having communication with the other pipe, whereby to exhaust the fluid from the cylinder in the manner described.

13. In a construction car, the combination of a cylinder for fluid, two pistons therein, piston-rods, suitable connections between the latter and the dumping apparatus, whereby the same is operated by movements of the pistons toward and away from each other, a pipe for conducting fluid into the cylinderon the outer sides of the pistons, a pipe for conducting fiuid between the two pistons, valves for controlling the flow of fluid through said pipes, and an automatic exhaust-valve in each of the said pipes and having communication with the other pipe, whereby to exhaust the fluid from the cylinder, each of said exhaust 2 

